A strategic business partnership agreement has been signed between Mar Yapı and Wanda Group, one of China's largest commercial enterprises which also owns a chain of luxury hotels. The agreement regarding Wanda Vista Istanbul, Wanda Group's first offshore hotel to be built in Istanbul, will be opened in the city as part of strategic collaborations with Mar Yapı under the scope of its investments in Turkey, ranging from a variety of fields including technology, tourism, finance and real estate. Prior to the signing ceremony for the Wanda Vista Istanbul project in Shanghai, Mar Yapı Chairman Münir Özkök came together with Wanda Group Chairman Wang Jianlin, China's richest man, at Wanda Group headquarters in Beijing.During the meeting, Wanda and Mar Yapı agreed to collaborate in different areas apart from the tourism sector, also making decisions to take steps in e-commerce and other brands the group owns.Wanda Vista Istanbul, the first step in the business alliance between the two groups, will be operational in 2018 and will serve as a hotel with 150 rooms, as well as undertaking the operation of 300 residences in the hotel building.Wanda to open first offshore hotel in IstanbulSpeaking at the signing ceremony, Wanda Hotels & Resorts Chairman Qian Jin announced that they will open their first foreign hotel in Istanbul under the scope of the Wanda Vista brand. Noting that Wanda Vista Istanbul will be the first hotel brand of Wanda Hotels & Resorts in the global market, Jin said the hotel will be followed by openings in other world-class cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Sydney and Gold Coast. Jin also said their partnership with Mar Yapı is an important milestone in China's goals to become an international hotel management company worldwide.Wanda to continue investment with other projectsResponding to questions from members of the Turkish press after the signing ceremony, Qian Jin said about 120 million Chinese tourists travel abroad every year, 45 million of whom use Wanda agencies, adding that with this partnership they want to show all of China that Turkey is a developed country that continues developing.Pointing out that a great level of responsibility falls on the relevant institutions of the two countries in order to increase the number of tourists that can come to Turkey, Jin said,"Companies like Turkish Airlines [THY] are already doing their part regarding this issue. [THY] is one of the best airline companies in the world. The opening of the new airport [Istanbul Third Airport] is also a great advantage for Istanbul. We think that Turkey and Istanbul will become a great hub."Jin suggested that Wanda and Mar Yapı will work together in other sectors as well, noting: "Our strategic cooperation includes more than one field. We discuss the things that Mar Yapı can do in China as well as what Wanda can do in Turkey. We are open to everything in this regard."Mar Yapı Chairman Münir Özkök said they are happy to see Wanda Hotels & Resorts today by their side, referring to their goals to work with the best in the real estate sector at the national and international level as well as in the development of the most highly qualified projects in Turkey.Stating that this strategic cooperation will contribute greatly to Turkey's real estate sector and the international reputation of its brands, Özkök said they aim to increase their brand value and the number of investments with strong international business partners as well as domestic partnerships.Pointing out that they will focus on commercial activities in addition to the real estate and tourism sectors in the following periods, Özkök noted that the agreement will contribute to the increase of mutual trade and cultural relations, especially in tourism, between the two countries.Münir Özkök expressed his joy in being part of a partnership that will bring forth the mutual interaction that began centuries ago thanks to China's Silk Road and spice routes which paved the way for future developments. Özkök also added that the preliminary demand for Wanda Vista Istanbul began to be collected from the Chinese."We will sell residences to the Chinese. We think Wanda Vista Istanbul will create a value of $150 million. After the hotel is open, a big advertising campaign will start in China. Turkey will become a destination for more Chinese tourists," Özkök said, adding, "We want to help Turkey make profit. We can consider opening to the public in the future by increasing our hotel investments."'This cooperation will pave the way for brighter opportunities'Sabri Tunç Angılı, consul general of Turkey in Shanghai, expressed his joy for attending the agreement ceremony, which will contribute to the development of cultural and commercial relations between the two countries.Highlighting that China, the second largest economy in the world, is also Turkey's second largest trading partner, Angılı said the Republic of Turkey, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2023, supports all kinds of initiatives and commercial relations as a part of its goal of becoming one of top 10 economies in the world.Pointing to the rapid development and diversification of the economic cooperation between Turkey and China, Angılı said the two major banks of China have started to operate in Turkey, while large Chinese companies such as Huawei and ZTE have invested in Turkey and Turkish companies have also invested in and around Shanghai; namely, Beko, Aksa, Teklas and Çimtaş.Stressing that the strategic partnership agreement between Wanda Group and Mar Yapı, two important companies of Turkey and China, is one of a kind, Angılı said, "I am confident that this will pave the way for new collaborations and brighter opportunities. I congratulate the two companies for their vision of working together. I believe that the same bright vision will shape the future of Turkish-Chinese relations."